5 Hurricane Safety Tips for Families with Young Children

As a retired volunteer firefighter who lives in a hurricane-prone region of the country, I've seen how much devastation these types of storms can cause. Through my firefighting years I've learned some valuable hurricane safety tips. These tried and true tips can help prepare you for an ensuing storm.

As you probably already know, losing power during a hurricane is almost inevitable. When evening hits this can be a cause for fear in your child. What can you do as a parent? Purchase a small flashlight that has a string you can hang around your neck, or add a string to one you already have. Not only will you and your family have access to light at all times, but it will also help you keep track of the little ones.

Another important precaution: Keep everyone away from windows. Most people know to board up their windows with plywood. Still, there is no guarantee that debris won't break through the plywood and enter your home, which could seriously hurt someone. You and your children should steer clear of all windows until the storm has passed.

It's also important to stock up on things you may need. In the event you do lose power, you should have enough drinking water and nonperishable food to last at least one week. You can purchase milk in a nonperishable form, but once opened it will need to be drunken or refrigerated. You could also purchase powdered milk and make single servings using water bottles. Juice boxes work well too. Nonperishable foods include things like snack bars, peanut butter and jelly, pudding cups, applesauce cups, and other things that don't require refrigeration.

Keep a well-stocked first aid kit on hand as well; plenty of Band-Aids, sanitary wipes and hand sanitizer, compresses, medical tape, etcetera. One thing that may be more important than anything else is to have a family plan that everyone understands.

Decide on a meeting place where you all can go should anyone get separated from the crowd. Choose a location that is easily accessible and memorable for your toddler, and practice getting to it. To practice, stand somewhere out of your toddler's view and tell them to the agreed meeting place after you yell "Go." It could be a neighbor's house, under a certain tree in your yard, or anywhere else your toddler can have easy access too without the help of others. Remember, practice makes perfect.

More Blogs

Cyndi Li

Cyndi Li has been freelance writing since 2005. She’s been published in Twins Magazine, and has written thousands of online articles. She’s the proud mother of five children ranging in age from six-years-old to 28 years-old including a set of adorable, mischievous twins. She enjoys spending time with her beautiful granddaughter, Hailey, and loves the outdoors, creating unique family memorabilia, and cooking from scratch.

About Word of Mom

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent, and open conversation about pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff or the What to Expect brand.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here